City/county Digest

CITY/COUNTY DIGEST

A 10-month project to rebuild Market Place between Pratt and Water streets will begin today, forcing temporary changes to downtown streets, the city's Office of Transportation said.

During construction, Market Place will be converted to a one-way street northbound. In addition, Water Street will become one-way westbound from Market Place to Gay Street. Work is expected to be completed by July.

Crews will rebuild the two blocks of Market Place, installing new utilities, curbs, brick sidewalks, lights and landscaping. "It's a whole new street," said spokeswoman Adrienne D. Barnes of the transportation office.

2 arrested on drug charges in police raid on house

Two people were arrested early yesterday on drug charges in a raid by city police that netted 650 vials of crack cocaine, more than $10,000 and two handguns, authorities said.

Robert T. Washington, 27, of the 1800 block of W. Lanvale St. and Antonio C. Atkinson, 17, of the 300 block of S. Mount St. were being held last night on charges of drug and handgun possession, and attempting to distribute drugs. The teen-ager was charged as an adult, police said.

Detective Mark Lunsford said police had been investigating drug dealing -- mostly between midnight and 7 a.m. -- near Harlem and Fremont avenues in West Baltimore for two months. Police arrested the two about 1 a.m. at a house in the 1100 block of Harlem Ave, as crack was being put into vials for sale, Lunsford said.

Fire officers union re-elects president to third term

Stephan G. Fugate has been elected to a third three-year term as president of Baltimore Fire Officers Union Local 964, which represents 330 Fire Department officials.

During a meeting Monday at the union hall at 1030 S. Linwood Ave. in Canton, the 50 members present voted by acclamation to re-elect Fugate, who faced no opposition.

Fugate, a 49-year-old Highlandtown resident and fire captain who runs the union full time, has been president of the organization since 1996.

UMB workers to vote on union representation

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed yesterday to hold an election on forming a bargaining unit at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

About 1,000 office, maintenance and service workers at UMB would make up the second-largest bargaining unit formed under a new state law allowing collective bargaining among nonfaculty staff at the state's public colleges and universities. Workers at 11 state campuses have formed units under AFSCME, with the largest at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The election on whether to have union representation at UMB will be held within the next two months, union officials said.

In Baltimore County

Fire that damages homes was arson; 9 left homeless

DUNDALK -- Two families were left homeless after an arson fire severely damaged their rowhouses in the 2300 block of Searles Road early yesterday, Baltimore County officials said.

Investigators concluded that the fire was set in the back of 2300 Searles Road and that a blaze that broke out in a shed behind the same house about four hours earlier also was arson, said fire Capt. James Korn.

Two firefighters suffered ankle injuries battling the two-alarm fire, Korn said, and were treated at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. A third house was damaged by smoke from the fire, which began about 2:40 a.m. Nine people were displaced.

Candidates to debate future of historic preservation

TOWSON -- Candidates for Baltimore County executive and council will meet at 6 p.m. today in Merrick Hall on the Goucher College campus for a debate on the future of historic preservation in the county.

ESSEX -- The 25th annual Essex Day Festival, postponed Sept. 15 because of rain, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in the 400, 500 and 600 blocks of Eastern Blvd.

The event will feature food, rides and musical entertainment. Bobby Lewis will perform his rock 'n' roll hit "Tossin' and Turnin'" and will be backed by Gene Vincent and the Cadillac Cruisers. Also on the musical bill will be Big Daddy Country and Big Kelvin and Blues Delux.

The Essex and Middle River fire companies will be honored during opening ceremonies.